slow login time when not connected to domain

[ronin2307]

please save yourself the flaming. I have looked around and found some posts about this topic but none seem to apply to my situation.
My laptop users have to wait 5-10 minutes to completely log on to their machines when they are on the road and not connected to my domain. There are no roaming profiles in use, DNS entries are correct (primary DNS is an internal DNS and there is no other DNS entry) and the GP is very simple (only a few settings are changed).
The users are enabled to log on 30 times before needed to get in touch with a DC (domain GP setting)

Now, I believe that there is a setting that controls how many times/how much time to wait for DC for auth, before using cached credentials, but I cannot remember where it was. If I remember it correctly it was a registry setting rather than GP setting.

Any help will be appreciated.
Thanx

 

[WhoKilledKenny]

I use to have this problem awhile back with laptops. My issue was not only domain logons but hardware profiles as well. The users utilized a docking station (at the office) that required different drivers to be loaded for NICs. When building the images I had to create two profiles (Docked and Undocked) and trained the users which profile to choose when booting up. Booting in undocked mode shortened login times when clients where not on the network.

 

[ronin2307]

unfortunately that is not it because nobody in my company has a docking station. But thanx for information

 

[WhoKilledKenny]

More Suggestions:

I'm sure you have tried this... Have you attempted to log on locally to isolate the problem. In that not being able to communicate to DNS and retreive DC's is causing the issue? I know it takes a little longer to logon when DCs can be found, but 5-10 minutes is extreme.

Another thought, is there a wireless card adapter/built-in on the Laptops. When you login, try disabling the card, re-boot and see if this improves the logon time. If so, set the properties of the wireless card to use access points NOT Ad-Hoc networks. Re-enable the card, re-boot. Has the logon time improved?

 

[WhoKilledKenny]

when DCs can be found

sorry - when DC's CAN'T be found...

 

[ronin2307]

i will try to do it with removing the ad-hoc networks. I am not sure that they are there but it is worth checking

local logon is not a problem